The Other Minister: I love, love, love this chapter. I think it is a clever way to present the recap and I love viewing all this from the view of the Prime Minister. The recounting of Fudge's first visit when he gave away the gerbil to try to forget about it makes me laugh every time. I love the Prime Minister's responses to everything. And Fudge is more likable here than in any other book in the series, IMHO. We're introduced to Scrimgeour, who apart from being quite brusque I like very much at this point, although this won't last. I love Fudge's line as he leaves that the other side can do magic too.
Yes, I noticed that too. One can see why Fudge did okay as a Minister until the chips started falling - he has this somewhat condescending but quite amiable way with people, very Minister-y.
Yes. I almost forget reading this passage what a terrible person Fudge became in the last book. Almost.
It's a bit of a shame there's no follow-up to this that I can remember, though, the Muggles are ignored again from here on out...
Muggles are referred to, but not talked to again. You're right, it's kind of a shame but considering everything that is in the next book I can see why there is no time for it. I think Rowling does a good job reminding us in places though.
Spinner's End: I finally start to respect Narcissa here a little. I don't really understand her, whether she is a supporter of Voldemort's of her own volition or if she is simply following Lucius in the beginning until Voldemort goes after Draco, but she has gone all mamma bear now and I like that. I have no idea why Snape lives in his parent's old house considering how miserable he was there, but I love Snape in this chapter. I love how he is so kindly to Narcissa but lays into Bellatrix when she continues to interrupt the conversation. Part of me wishes I felt sorry for Wormtail, but I can't say that I do. I do feel sorry for the fox though, which is really kind of messed up when I think about it.
I think she and Lucius are actually pretty much on the same page - they are very alike in many ways, down to the hair colour. They were both brought up in Dark pureblood families, with the notion that they were better than most everyone else, and so they chose Voldemort's side, but never with the fanaticism or fervour that some of the others had. At the end of the day they're opportunists, moving with the flow. And because they care more about each other and about Draco than about their ideology, they end up on the good side in the end, more or less.
Kind of by default, you're right.
Bellatrix of course is the other extreme, she obviously has some affection for her sister, but other than that she's pretty much a psychopath, as is clear from her statements about sacrificing any sons she might have to Voldemort. Though of course Azkaban might have had a lot to do with that. I felt sorry for the fox, too, but it fits Bellatrix well: the paranoid and trigger-happy mentality, and her total lack of uneasiness about the AK.
Will and Won't: One of my favorite chapters of the series. Dumbledore messing with the Dursley's is awesome. I think now that he knows his days are numbered he feels a certain amount of freedom about calling things like he sees them. One of the defining aspects of Dumbledore's character is his focus on being polite at all times, while here he is still polite he is "instructing" them throughout this chapter and I think it's brilliant. I won't quote all the lines here, but his exchanges are full of wonderful one liners. I love the glasses bouncing off the Dursley's heads (and a subtle introduction to the fact that Dumbledore likes that mead for later in the book). And then he gets so serious. It really has a lot more gravity because we've been laughing our way through the situation until now. He really lets them have it with both barrels while remaining calm. No one has really called them out yet and it is beautiful. This is a defining Dumbledore chapter, and you really walk away with the impression of his power and the fact that he just gets things.
Yeah, the closing line especially was brilliant, as Camilla said. Good catch about the mead. As for the Dursleys sermon, yes, but I still have a somewhat uneasy feeling about the whole thing because of what I noted in the previous book - that their initial treatment of him was so over the top that it worked in a children's book, but feels off when the series grows to more adult levels. The Dursleys are made a bit more human in these later books, you sometimes feel sorry for them or see where they're coming from, but then there's that cupboard under the stairs thing that keeps making that difficult. I don't know, it bothers me.
With regard to your closing sentence, I find it interesting that you make that observation - which I don't disagree with - right after we'd agreed at the end of book five that Dumbledore's infallibility had ended for good with Sirius' death and his failure to keep Voldemort from possessing Harry. That was the end of Dumbledore the demi-god, this is the beginning of Dumbledore the kick-ass but quite human hero. If that makes any sense.
It makes a lot of sense, and I agree. He has lost his air of infallibility, but he is still without a doubt one of the wisest and most intelligent people in that world. And he knows it but isn't arrogant about it. He also knows and has been very painfully reminded that the fact that he is so brilliant means he is susceptible to much larger mistakes. He referred to this at the end of the last book and is very up front about it in this book. I think Dumbledore had to be humbled a bit so we would believe the end of this book. And frankly, the more human he is the more I respect what he has accomplished. I like the human Dumbledore a lot more.
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM
- 2631 Views
General comments on the book.
18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
- 1505 Views
Suggestions.
18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
- 1546 Views
*cough*
09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
- 1431 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
- 1767 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
- 1745 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
- 1773 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
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(minor book seven spoilers)
19/10/2010 11:27:53 AM
- 1730 Views
Re: (minor book seven spoilers)
19/10/2010 05:26:50 PM
- 1529 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
- 1724 Views
Plotting and writing.
18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
- 1269 Views
*spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue &stuff
19/10/2010 01:02:53 AM
- 1529 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
20/10/2010 02:58:54 PM
- 1496 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
20/10/2010 03:14:35 PM
- 1602 Views
Anything else? *NM*
18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
- 748 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
- 1633 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
- 901 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
- 1675 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
- 1669 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
- 1718 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
- 1635 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
- 1655 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
- 1539 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
- 1524 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
- 1693 Views
Anything else? *NM*
20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
- 742 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
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I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
- 849 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
- 889 Views
Characters *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
- 838 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
- 1678 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
- 1612 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
- 1636 Views
Re: Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
25/10/2010 10:33:04 AM
- 1345 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
- 839 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
- 1562 Views
Anything else? *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
- 856 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
- 1436 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
- 1509 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
- 1538 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
- 1576 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
- 894 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
- 867 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
- 1697 Views
*lol*
25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
- 1574 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
- 1484 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
- 1507 Views
Plotting and writing.
25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
- 1580 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
- 1612 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
- 1509 Views
Anything else? *NM*
25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
- 688 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
- 1408 Views
It's like baking, I think.
25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
- 1563 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
- 1598 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
- 1532 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
- 1525 Views
It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
25/10/2010 05:55:28 PM
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Re: It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
27/10/2010 04:31:45 PM
- 1525 Views
parseltongue
25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
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Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines. *NM*
25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
- 721 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
- 859 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
- 841 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
- 1506 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
- 1474 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
- 1462 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
- 1521 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
- 656 Views
plot and writing.
27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
- 1542 Views
Anything else? *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
- 701 Views
Re: Anything else?
27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
- 1667 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
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Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
- 1525 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
- 1654 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
- 817 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
- 907 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
- 1668 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
- 1554 Views
Anything else? *NM*
29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
- 720 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
- 631 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
- 941 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
- 1394 Views
Anything else? *NM*
01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
- 743 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
- 1312 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
- 1589 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
- 1866 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
- 1566 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
- 1802 Views
Characters. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
- 863 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
- 1571 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
- 752 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
- 1523 Views
Re: Stuff.
04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
- 1592 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
- 1588 Views
This "we'll see in book seven" thing is getting old, but still that's what I have to say here...
04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
- 1429 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
- 1415 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
- 727 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
- 1513 Views
Anything else? *NM*
05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
- 763 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
- 1507 Views
I didn't take the comparison as far, but the gate thing did remind me of Moria, yes. (DH spoilers)
05/11/2010 10:03:16 PM
- 1736 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
- 870 Views
Characters. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
- 702 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
- 1431 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
- 835 Views
Spoilers.
09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
- 1446 Views
Re: Spoilers.
09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
- 1488 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
- 1597 Views
Very true.
15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
- 1587 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
- 1546 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that. Another good catch!
15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
- 1717 Views
Anything else? *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
- 715 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
- 1567 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
- 1579 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
- 1545 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
- 1665 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
- 1508 Views